Mythal's Favour: A Dragon Age Origins Fan Fiction

Chapter 21

Chapter 21 – Denerim

 The closed city gates of Denerim loomed before the party. Ayu reread the letter from Arl Eamon once more as the cart steadily approached the capital city.

“Where is the Arl's estate?” Alistair asked from the driver's seat of the wagon.

“Once we are through the gates, the estate should be on our right. It says that it is facing the market courtyard.” Ayu paraphrased the Arl's written words for her fellow Warden.

“It certainly was nice of him to allow us to stay in his home while we make our way to the Dalish.” Leliana piped up from her spot beside Ayu.

Ayu nodded. “It was very kind indeed.” She folded the parchment and stuffed it into her bodice. “We are also fortunate that the majority of the Templars are not within the city at the moment. The Chantry is also in the marketplace and that alone would make resupplying extremely difficult.”

“It seems as though we are still ahead of the men chasing us.”

“For the moment, yes Leliana. However, I wish to be on our way to the Brecillian Forest as quickly as possible. Once we are within the forest, we shall be far more difficult to find.”

“Is it easy to get lost in the forest?”

“Let’s put it this way: you will only see the Dalish when they want to be seen.” Ayu winked at her friend.

Leliana laughed. “I knew you Dalish were sneaky!”

Ajax stopped in front of the massive iron-bound gate and snorted. He tossed his head, making the harness jingle. Ayu poked her head up to the front of the cart where Alistair still sat.

“Is there a problem?” Ayu asked him quietly.

“No. Not as far as I can tell anyway. We’re just waiting for the guards to open the gate.” He replied over his shoulder.

A moment later the wide gates swung open and the party entered Denerim. The horse’s hooves clapped on the cobblestone streets as they made their way toward Arl Eamon’s estate.

After successfully navigating the city streets from the main gate, Alistair brought the cart into the marketplace. The sound of the busy stalls and hundreds of conversations buzzed in their ears as they made their way through. Ayu moved within the cart and peeked out from behind the rear flap, nearly sitting on Oghren as she did so. The dwarf only waggled his eyebrows at her and smiled toothily.

Ayu shook her head, silently laughing to herself.

Through the flap of the canvas covering, Ayu took in the boisterous activity of the market. She saw a dwarven man running an armor stall; a woman selling textiles and bags; another man selling weapons; and stall after stall of fruits and vegetables from the surrounding farms and elsewhere. Her stomach growled as she watched the market shrink away and a grandiose stone archway pass overhead.

Alistair drew the wagon to a halt and it lurched as he jumped from the driver's seat. That was the signal that the companions had been waiting for. They had arrived at the Arl's estate and they could finally get out of the cart. One by one they all disembarked, stretching limbs appreciatively as their feet hit the packed earthen yard at the base of massive stone stairs.

Oghren whistled in awe. “I've never seen a home so big that wasn't attached to the stone.”

Ayu chuckled. “It certainly is huge isn't it? This isn't even the biggest home. Alistair said that this is one of the smaller ones. Apparently the Arl of Denerim has an even bigger one.” She winked at the dwarf as she laughed.